Day 5 of the event! Team Tsukuyomi has taken the lead.
Mermaid: Hey Saru it's me again! Look at this!
It's that same mermaid girl who talked to Sarutahiko on Day 1, and she's showing Sarutahiko a pic of her smiling with someone.
Mermaid: I took your advice and now we're friends!
Sarutahiko: Yay for you!
Mermaid: Thanks to you! And you remember our promise?
Sarutahiko promised to talk about his past.
Sarutahiko: Oh, right. Don't tell anyone okay, it's my cringe period.
Flashback!
Bathhouse Boss Oni: Oh you woke up? Stay down, you been beat to hell and back.
Sarutahiko: Piss off old man, nobody asked you for help!
Sarutahiko tries to leave Saru no Yu. Boss Oni grabs him.
Sarutahiko: OW, IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT HURT PEOPLE!?
Bathhouse Boss Oni: Boy, you think you can waste people's work trying to help for free?
Boss Oni writes something in his ledger and shows Sarutahiko something with a lot of zeroes.
Sarutahiko: Bitch, are you ripping me off!?
Bathhouse Boss Oni: What, no money? You can pay in other ways...
Present
Mermaid: Wait, did he make you do THAT!?
Sarutahiko: Old Man worked me sooo hard. But he really knew his stuff and knew how to handle a dude like me. I was a huge bitch but he stayed patient and never gave up on me. And how he talked is how I learned to talk with you, ducky.
Mermaid: Wow, I wish I were there to pick you up back then.
Sarutahiko smiles and thinks about how that would have been a TERRIBLE idea back then. But then, people change. And as a guide, Sarutahiko hopes he can at least guide those around him towards something better.
Mermaid: Oh yeah, how's the other team doing? Reviews are bad.
Mermaid shows Sarutahiko the reviews online. Yeah, they're p bad.
Sarutahiko: (Oof. Wish I could help, but we're competing and I doubt they'd want my help...)
Sarutahiko is thinking. Mermaid waves her hand in his face.
Mermaid: Hellooo in there. Maybe I shouldn't have asked?
Sarutahiko: Oh, sorry. I am pretty worried, but thanks for worrying about me. I'm...just not sure I can go talk to them though...
Mermaid: Come on, you should try to be number one yourself! I want you to get there!
Sarutahiko: ...aw thanks, I'll try.
And then Sarutahiko sees her off and thinks about what she said and how he showed how out of it he was.
Meanwhile...
Y'golonac: WHAT
Y'golonac is looking at reviews. People are harsh on Team Y'golonac and particularly on Y'golonac himself.
Y'golonac: "dude's totally in it for getting faith"? "he ain't got no leadership skill"? "The Foreigner can't even help me get away from reality"!? Get in the car, boys! We gonna find eacha these peeps and goin' on a raid!
MC: NO WAIT STOP / you can do that!? / I'm in
---
(A) Bael: No, we should go about this legally. With lawsuits!
(B) Y'golonac: Heh. I can SMELL spite over da internet!
Bael: Huh. Interesting.
(C) Bael: Stop.
---
Perun: Crush all dissention! Round them all up!
Okay they're mad, but it's pretty clear there's a growing customer popularity gap.
Shino: Stop, or I shall cut you both down.
Bael: ...well well. How bold. MC, we should ignore them all.
Shino: Oh, you wanted to be first? I'm happy to oblige!
MC: Nooo, we should be working together!
Y'golonac: Maybe we should quit and go home? Expanding business was a bad idea?
Perun: What? Give up and cement our losses?
Y'golonac: But winnin' people back is gonna be hard! Bad reviews spread easier! Not like we got some good news to push all that way.
And then the circular argument starts cycling.
Later
Sarutahiko: uggggh
Barong: Wow, who rained on your parade?
Sarutahiko watched Team Y'golonac fight and Barong noticed Sarutahiko frowning.
Sarutahiko: Oh, uh, it's nothing. Come to think of it, you don't seem to worry about anything huh?
Barong: I guess! Customers say they like that about me.
Sarutahiko: Must be nice. I worry about every little thing.
Barong: But that's what's good about you! You get the little details covered. Thanks for that.
Barong headpats Sarutahiko. Sarutahiko disapproves.
Barong: Why not go help them then?
Sarutahiko: Would they even listen?
Barong: I think it'll be fine. Oh, duty calls!
Sarutahiko: Oh my god, stick it out if you were gonna give me advice!
Barong: You'll be fine. Tell me how it goes, kthnxbai~!
Sarutahiko: ...welp. Guess that's how he's popular as a host.
Sarutahiko heads back to work and hears randos talking.
Mermaid A: Dude, the other team is floundering sooo hard.
Guy B: Inorite? I just bailed on them!
Sarutahiko: Heeey duckies, you shouldn't go talking about the other team when you're with us hehe.
Mermaid A: Oh my god, Sarutahiko! Have you heard? Did anyone tell you?
Welp, subject change failed. The tea was too hot to not talk smack about together, but still...
Sarutahiko: Yeah, I get it with wanting to make comparisons and looking at the bad. But that's exactly why I want you to see the good. Try it on me!
Guy B: Ooh, trying to be like Barong? I'll list everything I can!
And so Guy B starts rattling Sarutahiko's good points off.
Sarutahiko: (...what DO I do with Y'golonac's team?)
Sarutahiko refocuses when he realizes he's drifting. Except there's a commotion happening now.
Bael: Pardon me, Sarutahiko. Do you have a moment?
MC: Hi excuse us / oof we stand out / (wink)
Sarutahiko: !?
Later
Bael: So...we'd like some advice for our team.
Sarutahiko: Huh. I didn't peg you to ever ask for advice.
Bael: Unsurprising. And I believe in the power of collective problem solving.
MC: HEEELP (grabs Sarutahiko's hands)
Sarutahiko: I mean I want to, but what about Perun and Y'golonac?
Bael looks away. Sarutahiko understands.
Sarutahiko: Meh, why not? I've been thinking about it the whole time!
Bael: ...thank you! Any ideas?
Sarutahiko: Nope! I was just thinking you guys are screwed!
Bael: ...MC I think we asked the wrong person for help.
MC: It'll be okay, somehow! / yeah... / Quiet, he'll hear you!
Sarutahiko: I HEARD THAT! But this is still a competition and I won't do some things so...
Bael raises an eyebrow as Sarutahiko whispers something.
Bael: Ah, not a totally terrible idea. Might actually stop the bad rep if it works, except both teams would have to work together. Don't you think that's impossible?
Saruathiko: Yeaaaah...I don't think Y'golonac would ever take Tsukuyomi's help.
Bael: There's also the fact that your plan won't help your team at all. Do you think you can talk them into it? What if they call you a turncoat?
Bael starts right at Sarutahiko. Sarutahiko goes doki-doki!
Sarutahiko: I-I'll do it! I want you guys to do better! And...
Sarutahiko smiles when he thinks about his team.
Sarutahiko: I get the feeling they'll tell me to go for it.
Bael: Uh-huh. You do know we're royally screwed if it doesn't work? Except I agree with you actually.
Sarutahiko: Welp, that means MC needs to talk the rest of your team into it then.
Bael: I'm sure Shino will agree. Perun and Y'golonac will oppose though.
MC: Me!? / Hmm... / I got it!
---
(A) Bael: Why are you surprised? You're closer to them.
---
Bael: Show them the Charisma you've been grinding here so far!
Sarutahiko: Okay this could blow up, but good luck MC!
MC: Right! / no promises
Later
Y'golonac: Co-op with Team Tsukuyomi? Are you freakin' serious??? Why would they even agree!?
Welp.
MC: pleeease? / Think of our position! / (aww...)
---
(A) Y'golonac: Y-y-ya better not think that'll work on me! Look, you got customers! Chop chop!
(B) Y'golonac: But I AM! I'm still Kabukicho's number two host!
---
MC isn't hopeful as they go to Perun next.
Perun: Cooperation? They're going to be our servants? FINALL--wait what do you mean that wasn't it?
Later
MC: No dice.
Bael: Well that was predictable.
Sarutahiko: Wait, maybe I can try!
Bael: How can that possibly go any better?
Sarutahiko: You never know!
Bael: MC, maybe you should debase yourself for this and sell your soul. Would you like to contract with me?
MC: NO / what if I granted your wish? / My soul's worth something?
---
(B) Bael: Hmmmm...
(C) Bael: Oh you sweet summer child.
---
Sarutahiko: At least PRETEND to be supportive! Watch, I'll make our teams work together!
Later
Sarutahiko and Y'golonac are being awkward around each other.
Sarutahiko: (wait what do I even say)
Y'golonac: So like I'm kinda busy here... (distrustful side-eye)
Bael: He didn't have a plan!?
MC: We gotta help Sarutahiko!
Bael: Fiiiine, we can give him a hint. Here, make a cue card.
MC: (write "talk about the weather") / (write "find common ground") / (write "make a joke")
(A) Sarutahiko: (That'll just make things MORE awkward!)
(B) Sarutahiko: (Oh right, thanks!)
(C) Sarutahiko: (Goddammit, no MC!)
Y'golonac: Can I leave yet?
Sarutahiko: Wait! Uhh, I wanna ask you about MC!
Y'golonac: Can't you just go talk to MC instead then?
Sarutahiko: I can't ask them directly! Besides, MC talks about you a lot!
Y'golonac: Really? Awesome, gwehehe!
MC: cringe / LIES / cute
Bael: Quiet, MC! Also, wow Sarutahiko actually found an in.
Y'golonac: And that's how that one time with MC went!
Sarutahiko: Aww man I wish I was there then! But then this one time, at the bathhouse...
MC: OMG STOP / what are they talking about / Sarutahiko, the goal!
Y'golonac: ...so anyways, did Tsukuyomi put ya up to this?
Sarutahiko: UHHH, NO? Naw man, just wanted to be better friends even if we're on different teams, haha...
Y'golonac: Bro you suck bad at this lyin' thing. Maybe I oughta teach ya a lesson...
Y'golonac licks his lips and brings his hand up to Sarutahiko!
Sarutahiko: OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH YOUR HAND
MC: No, stooop! / Y'golonac what the hell
---
(AB) Y'golonac: Okay finally ya come out. What the hell were ya doin'?
(C) Y'golonac: That's what I wanna ask you. Seriously what?
---
Sarutahiko: oh god thanks MC
Bael: Y'golonac I assume you've figured as much, but Sarutahiko came to discuss helping us.
Y'golonac: You were SERIOUS!?
Sarutahiko: Well yeah! I mean, the bar as a whole isn't doing good...
Sarutahiko looks sincere.
Y'golonac: ...fine, I guess I can hear ya out.
MC, Sarutahiko, and Bael smile.
Bael: Wow, you actually look much cuter when you open up and be honest Y'go--
Y'golonac: OH GAWD DON'T SAY IT
Sarutahiko: Heh. Sorry to interrupt, but here's the plan...
End of Episode part
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